Some 12 KC-135E model tankers that have been taking up space—and absorbing resources—of the Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th Air Refueling Wing in Topeka reportedly will be going to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., sooner rather than later. Various news reports cite Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) as saying the Air Force would accelerate retirement of the old tankers. The 190th ARW now flies newer R models and has been keeping the E models in condition to fly should they be needed in an emergency. However, the unit complained about the lack of space at its airfield and the expense, including manhours, to keep them in a ready state. Congress, of course, has kept tight strings on the Air Force’s ability to retire older aircraft.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
